U.S.-Made Parts Can Be Key To Positive Car Repair Experience

(NAPSI)—The next time you have someone work on your car, it may pay
to ask the technician why he or she chose a specific brand of replacement
parts.

That’s because a brand name can be a strong indicator of product
quality. It can also provide added assurance that the manufacturer will stand
behind the product. It might even increase the likelihood that the part was
engineered and manufactured in the U.S.A.

“U.S.
manufacturing can be a strong competitive differentiator in the replacement
parts industry,” explained John Perrin, executive director of product
management for the North America Aftermarket business of Tenneco, Inc., which
manufactures Monroe
shock absorbers, struts and other ride control products. “Many
consumers are attracted to U.S.-based manufacturers because of the perceived
quality, performance and durability advantages of these parts as compared to
products imported from offshore manufacturers.”

A vast majority of Monroe ride control
products sold in North America are manufactured or assembled in the company’s
plant in Paragould, Ark. Last year, the massive facility, with
adjacent warehousing and strut assembly manufacturing operations, produced
nearly 19 million shocks, struts and Monroe Quick-Strut modular strut
assemblies.

Why Quality Matters

The choice of one parts brand over another can affect how your vehicle
will perform following the repair. In the case of shocks and struts, the
differences could include ride quality; handling precision; noise, vibration
and harshness (NVH); component durability; and even tire wear.

Quality differences can be even more profound in preassembled modular
strut assemblies, which include all the subcomponents—strut, coil
spring, upper strut mount, spring seat, isolator, boot kit, and more—needed
for a comprehensive strut replacement. While many assemblies might look
alike, a single poorly designed or mismatched part could lead to a
performance problem or premature failure.

“There’s a lot of science in a quality strut assembly,”
Perrin explained. “You need a coil spring with the proper metallurgy,
coil configuration and spring rate for the vehicle. The damper needs to be
tuned to the proper ride and handling profile. Every component can either
contribute to or detract from the consumer’s driving experience.”

Given that hundreds of unique strut assembly configurations are required
to cover the passenger vehicle population, maintaining U.S.-based engineering
and assembly operations helps companies more closely control product quality
and performance. For example, each Monroe
assembly is both fit- and ride-checked on the corresponding vehicle model
prior to introduction.

“That would be very difficult to do if we weren’t designing,
engineering and manufacturing in the U.S.,” Perrin said. “We
believe that’s an important message for consumers, who deserve to know
why a specific brand was chosen for their vehicles.”

Learn More

For further facts on automotive replacement parts, go to www.monroe.com.